AI compares car dimensions, cannot even do basic mathematics – Jalopnik

AI has found ways to ruin everything, from the ticket prices of airlines to inspections of the rental car. Now it seems that you can’t even trust AI to take two numbers and tell you correctly which of them is bigger. That is pretty bad, given that computers were specifically invented Automate routine calculations.

An important part of car shopping is to do your homework, learn as much as possible about the models you are considering, and make a choice based on the information you find. A member of the excellent APEX Automotor Facebook group posted about his experience by investigating whether the Ford F-150 Raptor that he is considering will fit in his garage. He previously had an Expedition Max that suited, and wanted to compare the two to see how the Raptor would do. According to the overview of Google AI, the Raptor is 232.6 inches long and the expedition is max 221.9 inches. That is why the Max expedition is longer. That is not calculated.

I asked Google the same question myself and got the same result. It uses different formulation than the original poster that is shared in its message, but the meaning is the same: the 232.6-inch Raptor is shorter than the 221.9-inch Expedition Max. This must be a strange use of the word “shorter” that I was not aware of before.

I gave AI the benefit of the doubt, I tried some other comparison scenarios to see if this error was a one -off event. Google AI overview correctly told me that a Chevy -Buitenwijk is longer than a Tahoe. Yes, it is a softball question, but it has established a basic line that AI overview is not entirely stupid. Then I tried a comparison closer to those who led to this exploration, an suburbs versus a Silverado.

AI overview was correct that the Silverado varies in length, depending on the cabin and bed configuration. Every configuration was possible because I neglected to indicate exactly which Silverado compares. It was also correct that the longest version can exceed 240 inches. So clearly the Silverado is longer than the suburbs, right? No. The first sentence of the AI overview is: “The suburbs of Chevrolet is longer than the Chevy Silverado 1500.” The rest of the explanation is correct, but many people will not read beyond the first sentence in our short focus on society.

I have tried another comparison of the truck versus SUV, the Toyota Tundra and 4runner. This time the AI overview usually has good.

I say “usually” because it did not take into account the limited edition of the Tundra 1794, that is 245.6 inch long. But that does not affect the general result, namely that the tundra is longer than the 4runner.

I find the inconsistency of correctness in these answers more worse than when the AI overview was always wrong. If so, you could just ignore it. But it gives just enough correct information to rude you in a false sense of safety. The specific dimensions in these examples are close by, but in two of the three examples, AI interprets the results incorrectly and says that 232.6 is less than 221.9 and 225 more than 240.

Where are you going to find the right answers? As a journalist I have to do my facts well. If I don’t do that, I will be roasted in the reactions, and rightly so. To ensure that you get the right statistics, you must do what the pros do and go to the source right away: the manufacturer’s website.

H/T: APEX Automotor